Anybody have any direct experience with how well they perform and which to go with?? Advice on riding with it in the rain, direct sun, power draw.. etc... looking to add onto my Strada... (I searched on this topic and found some old stuff in the OZ local... wanted to get a wider audience.)

I got a raging bargain on a Zumo 550 last year and it's been excellent.  I used it on my Monster with the supplied mount but only ran it off of battery power.  I'm not sure why I purchased the 550 since I don't use the XM radio or FM traffic, but I have used the bluetooth from time to time.  It hasn't been exposed to the elements, but visibility is great in sunlight. 

The City Navigator software is okay.  You can build routes with it then load the routes onto the GPS, making route planning a little less painful. 

The advrider forums will have a lot more information on various GPS devices. 

QuoteThe advrider forums will have a lot more information on various GPS devices.

+1.  They have a dedicated GPS forum. Mainly geared towards adventure/dualsport applications but still very informative.  I ended up with a Garmin 60CSx that I really like for exploring backroads and other countries but due to its relatively small screen there are better ones for city use.

I have a GPS in my cell phone, Palm Treo Pro, I can use Google Maps or Tomtom Navigator 6 maps, both work great, pics of my set up on my 2007 Monster 695.  It's mounted on a Ram Mount, so I can angle it outt of the way or closer to me:

I run a Garmin 450 wired into my 1098's battery it works flawlessly and has been extremely useful for those long sundays!  I use a techmount that mounts it above the triple on the fork tube.  It is a great purchase

I have a cheaper Garmin Nuvi 255W (got it for like $140) as I didn't need all the features of the Zumo, which I would get if I had an extra million dollars lying around. Ran the lead to a cigarette adapter I installed under my seat (2007 695 [took about 5 minutes to do this]), and mounted it with a RAM Aquabox. It's ugly for sure, but I've configured it so I can take it off easily when I'm just putzin' around in town. I've also got my iPhone plugged in to the cigarette adapter, and stream tunes through Pandora all day. Now that it supports stereo bluetooth, I bought a Parrot SK4000 ($140) bluetooth system so I can wirelessly listen to it while riding as well as take/make the occasional phone call. The Parrot arrives today and I'm pretty stoked to try it out.

So far a pretty good, economical system.

The key for me was completely wireless to the helmet/body. I don't like dangling cords on my bike.

I don't have much for you here - but there are a model or two done by each biggy in the game that are made for motos.  All the buttons on the left, better weather resistance, (in theory) touch screens that can be used w/ gloves etc.  Of course, they are more expensive...

I've got a Zumo 550 on my ST2 and had previously used a Garmin Quest on my Monster and Falco. I'm a bit biased towards Garmin's software vs. the Tom Tom.

The Garmin motorcycle focused units hold up well in rain, etc. Refurbs that carry the factory warranty make for a good deal.

I also have the Zumo550. I went with the 550 over the 450 as it came with the car cradle, power adapter, and bluetooth.
It's been in the rain, even with earphones jacked into it and there's been no problem. I do put a bit if lithium grease on all connections though.
I paid $650 early last spring. That was a tough price to choke down but I'm extremely glad I got it. You'd think for that price you could get free map updates 

I just use the supplied RAM mount on my left clipon.
If you are looking for information on the Zumo series, checkout zumoforums.com

just tape directions on your tank and use your phone gps google maps if you get lost.

Got the TomTOm Rider II and love it.
Took me all the way from Denmark to Italy and back.
Pass roads, forests, Milano with all it construction sites....never a problem.
SUper fast recalculating if you turn wrong.
Waterproof ... tested...for hours...Denmark you know
Would buy it again...

Quote from: RavnMonster on July 11, 2009, 12:32:03 PM
just tape directions on your tank and use your phone gps google maps if you get lost.

Thats ok unless the wind blows the directions off your tank or your phone doesn't have GPS

Quote from: RavnMonster on July 11, 2009, 12:32:03 PM
just tape directions on your tank and use your phone gps google maps if you get lost.

Very unsafe. I went down to Milwaukee to get a car part before I had the GPS and printed out the directions. Put em in my tank bag map holder. In order to see the page I had to completely take my eyes off the road and rotate my head straight down. At a stop sign you can get away with this. At 70mph in traffic on the freeway? Forget it.

Nope. I'll let my GPS whisper in my ear anyday 

I use a Garmin Street pilot 2720 that I got for $180 shipped (refurbished)

I use a ram mount and have it wired to the battery so I can edit routes when the bike is off.  The street pilots are nice because they have a wide screen (as opposed to a little square one) 

They're fully gasketed and meant to be used in the rain.  The touch screen works with gloves on as well.  I do not have the audio hooked up.

Even when I know where Im going I still fire it up as the moving speed on the gps is more accurate than the bike's spedo, so I just go by that.

Last I looked the 2720's were down near $100 or $120 for a refurb.

Here's a couple pics, a cockpit view and a shot after I got back from DIMBY

dont get a tomtom rider the mounting hardware is fragile and inadeqaute.
at work we remanufacture tom toms warranty returns and most riders have cracked casings